Tie-adzing machine



June l5, -1 928.

J. H. MANSFIELD TIE ADZING MACHINE Sheets-Sheet l filed Apri .bww Mm,

June 5, 1928. J. H. MANsRiELD TIE ADZINGMAIHINB Filed Aprilia-2T, A1925 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 5, 1928.

J. H. MANSFIELD 'TIE ADZING MACHINE FiledA April 27, 192:5

'7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jun@ s, 192s.

J. H. MANsFlELn TIE ADZING MACHINE Filed AprinZ'Y, 1925 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 June 5, 1928. 1,672,652

J. H. MANSFIELD TIE ADZING MACHINE Filed April 27, 1925 7 Sheets-Sheet. 5

June 5, 1928.

J. H. MANSFIELD I TIE ADZING MACHINE Filed Aprll 27, 1925 '7 sheets-Sheet e .lune 5, 1928.

J. H. MANSFIELD vTIE ADziNG MACHINE Filed April 27, 1925 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented June 5, 1928.

UNITED kSTATES JUDSON I-I. MANSFIELD, OF ROCKFORI), ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO GREENLEE BROS. &

PATENT OFFICE.

CO., OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

rIE-ADZING MACHINE.

Application led April 27, 1925, Serial No. 25,981.

This invention relates to machines for adzingY timbers and has more particular reference to the adzing of railway ties to provide seats for the rail plates.

In adzing or gaining ties it is desired to produce as nearly a uniform result as possible and to this end it is considered essential that the adzing surfaces on each ltie shall be flat, parallel and coplanar, and that the adzing cuts shall be substantially ofy a uniform depth. It is found however, in practice thatfthe ties vary considerably in size, shape and proportions land that some are Warped and twisted. The problem therefore, of uniformly adzing Irailway ties having such irregularities presents many difficulties, especially When it is considered that a commercially practical machine for this purpose must necessarily be 4automatic in the sense that the ties, fed in succession to the machine, must be adzed in yaccordance With the requirements abovementioned irrespect-ively of the irregularities referred to in the shape of each tie. The primary purpose therefore, of the present invention is to provide an improved 'machine for automatically adzing railway tiesto meet the requirements of the trade,A irrespective 'of irregularities in shape, size or proportions of each tie.

In furtherance of this general object invention contemplates adzing eachv tie in succession While it is securely and rigidly held ina fixed position or plane and automatically 'locating `the adzing cutters in a Working position determined by the particular shape of the face or surface to be adzed. The adzing feed may be accomplished either by movement of a tie'past the cutters or of the cutters past the tie. vIn the present example the tie to be adzed ismoved past the cutters located at an adzing station. Furthermore, it is preferred to move or feed the ties in succession past the adzing station and to automatically position the cutters for adzing each tie, the positioning of the cutters being determined and controlled by the particular shape of the tie with the view to effecting the uniform result' desired'.

lVith the foregoing in mind my invention aims to move the ties in succession in a fixed plane past the adzing station by means of a traveling conveyor having carriages on which the tie rests at each end and Which securely grips and holds the tie so that there is no chance for itto rock, slip or be other- Wise displaced from a fixed determined position' While being adzed. The adzing cutters are mounted on a unitary structure so as to be in vfixed relationship for adzing parallel coplanar surfaces, and said unitary structure is normally outof Working position and adapted to be moved into the working posi-r tion as determined by the particular-shape of t-he tie. The adzing unit is therefore, in the present embodiment of the invention, mounted with capacity for lmovement in a plane perpendicular to the fixed plane in which the tie is moved by said conveyor means and .each adzing cutter is movable independently of the other' toward and from the tie to accommodate the varying irregu larities at oppositeends ofa tie although such movement is in the nature of a tilting movement of the entire adzing unit in order to maintain the fixed relationship of the cutters. Such positioning of the'adzin'g cutters, is effected by novel means actuated by a cutter control device normally located in the path of the tie just before it reaches the adzing station and adapted to be engaged or actuatedby the faceof the tie to be adzed for effecting movement yof the adzing cutters to the particular working position determined by the shape of such tie. In ythe present example, this control device includes a cradle in advance of each adzing cutter for determining the depth of the cut and equalizing such depthk in the event that the surface to be adZed is inclined With respect to the fixed plane in which the tie travels. Each cradle actuates a variable cutterpositioning means ivhich in turn is acted on by a power operated .means for advancing /its cutter a variable degree to the Working position, which variable degree is determined by the particular shape of the surfacesto be adzed. The cuttersremain in the set Working position until after the tic has been adzed and will then be returned to a normal position Withdrawn from the path of the tie. The cutters Will be subsequently repositioned by the controlling device for adzing the next succeeding tie in accordance with its particular characteristics.

I have also aimed to provide improved vmeans for gripping and holding a tie While it .is `being adzed 0r acted upon. by any instrumentality, either yadzing cutters or otherwise.

Still another object is to provied a tie adzing machine having such characteristics and functions as to make it possible of embodiment in a thoroughly practical machine for the purposes intended. l

Other objects and attendant advantages will be appreicated by those skilled in this art as the invention becomes better understood by reference to the following description When considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in Which-- Figure l, is a side elevation of a tie adzing machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2, is an end elevation of the machine looking at the delivery end;

Fig. 3, is a fragmentary top view of the machine; p

Fig. 4, is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially on the line 4*-4 of Fig. 3 showing the aarts in the Working or operative position in Which they are shown in the preceeding figures,

Fig. 5, is a similar vertical section but showing the parts in the normal position.;

Fig'. 6, is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 6--6 of Fig. 3;

l 7, is a detail section taken on the line .7-7 of Fig. 4i;

Fig. 8, is an enlarged vertical section through one of the tie gripping carriages;

Fig. 9, is a horizontal section taken on theline 9--9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10, is a diagrammatic view shoiving the position of the adzing unit as determined by the control device in this particular instance; and

Fig. 11, is a yvertical transverse section through the machine taken substantially on 'the' line 11.-11 of Fig. 3.

As explained above my invention is capable of embodiment in various forms, the present example being one in Whichfthe ties are carried in succession past an adzing station at which the adzing cutters are located and at Which the cutters as a unit are automatically .positioned for adzing each tie. It should be understood therefore, that the present disclosure is merely for purpose of illustration. For clarity the several cooperating 'mechanisms making-up this embodiment will be described separately and in combination Wherever necessary under subject headings as follows:

Ffm/me structure.

Any suitable or preferred frame structure may be employed to properly support and coordinate the Working parts. In the present case I have provided upright side frames designated generally by 12 and 13 entending longitudinally 'of the machine and vrigidly joinedtog'et'her by a cross framevlll adjacent to the delivery en'd 'of the machine ties, which conveyor structure Will now be' described.

Tie, omweg/07'.

Inasmuch as the conveyor' structure on each side frame is identical a detailed. description of one Will be sutlicient for-ni understanding of the invention.

The tie conveyor on the side frame 13 comprises, in this instance, an yendless chain 17 having ai plurality, three in the present instance, of tie carriages designated generally by 1S, 19 and 20 attached to the peripheral side of the conveyor chain at equally spaced points thereon. The conveyor chain is trained over sprocket Wheels 22 and 23 iixedly secured to cross shafts 24 and 25 respectively, in turn jo'urnaledA on suitable bearing brackets 26 and 27 on the side frame, the latter vbracket being adjustable thereon to keep the conveyor chain taut.

The side frame provides a housing through which the conveyor chain passes and the top of said frame provides spaced horizontal track-Ways 2S upon and between Whicheach carriage is adapted to ride and bel moved lengthwise there-along' by travel of the conveyor chain. Each" carriage is suitably connected tothe conveyor chain as by means of links 29 and 31. I f

tie Will bey loaded onto each carriage when it is moved to a loading station at the right hand end of the machine viewing Fig. 1 and Will be carried by the carriage along` the track 28 to the adzing station at vwhich the tie Will beadzed. The ties may be loaded onto the carriage by any suitable means and at present I have shownmerely 'a supporting rail V32 on which a tie is advanced. tothe loading station designated by 'iast which `each carriage passes in snc- -cession.` Each Acarriafije has an upstanding liked dog or abutmentS-l provided at its face With suitable gripping moans such as teeth 35 adapted to eng ge the tie and remove it from t'he'supporting rail onto the carriage as the latter advances.

In orderto securely grip and hold the tie on the carriage so that there Will be no chance of its being vdisplaced in any Way from aliiaied set position thereon I equipped each carriage with a series of pivy oted dogs 36 so mounted and arranged to engage the side of the tie opposite from that engaged by the teeth or spurs 35 and force the tie against the latter and at the same time rdraw and hold the tie onto the carriage. As shovvn in Figs. 8 and 9 said dogs 36 are pivotally mounted at 37 on a slide 38 located centrally between the sides ot' the carriage. andv movable lengthwise thereon. The carriage top 39 has an opening 4l through which the pointed gripping ends 42 ot the dogs normally project. rlhe dogs are held in this normal position by suitable yielding means, such for example,

as coiled coinpression springs 43 interposed between adjoining dogs as clearly shown iii 48 pivotally mounted on the underside ot the carriage andhaving an upstanding arm 49 engaging a pin 5l on the slideand a depending rollerequipped arm k52 adapted to be actuated by a stationary cani 53 (Figs. l and 3) onthe side trame. l

When the carriage passes under the tie at the loading station the upstanding pointed ends of the dogs 36 will be pressed down by contact with the underside of such tie. After the tie has been fully removed from the rails 32 so that it rests upon and is supported adjacent to its ends by the carriages at both sides of the machine, the depending roller arm 52 of each carriage will be brought in to contact with its cam 53 and swung thereby in a counter-clockwise direct-ion viewing 8, thereby moving the slide 38 to the lett upon the carriage. This movement of the slide will withdraw one or more of the dogs from beneath 'the tie and permit suchv dogs to assume an operative position under the influence oit their springs 43 with the pointed ends projecting up 'through the opening 4l. lWhen the roller lever passes the cam block 53 the springs 46 will force the slide 3S tothe right7 thereby lixedly pressing the hrst projecting dog into the ti'ont side of the tie. Because of the inclination of this pointedl end of the dog the tie will be drawn down onto the carriage so as to securely and immovably hold the tie thereon. Thus the tie will be so gripped and held by the spurs at the rear side and the dog 36 at the front side as to preveutit `from rocking, shitting or being otherwise displaced or moved from a lined, set position on the carriage. The tie held in this manner at each end will be carried by the carriages in the plane of travel thereof past the adzing station and will adzed while so held by the carriages and as they are being` moved past the adzing cutters. The tie will be discharged from the carriages at the discharge end ot the machine by actuatv iiigthe roller arms 52 by any suitable means (not shown) to withdraw the gripping dogs, thus permitting the tie to fall or be otherwise removed from thc carriage. A suitable spring cushion butlerv 54l cushions the striking; impact ot the slide when discharging the tie. Conveyor' dri/vc machen/Ism.

The conveyor may be driven, preferably at a constant speed7 by any suitable mechanisiii. That shown comprises a motor 55 connected by two sets of worm and worin gears 56 rand 57 andv spur gears 58 to the conveyor cross-shaft 24. This driving train is alsoemployed to operate mechanismv described hereinafter for moving vthe adzing cutters into the working position. Said mechanism is therefore, operated .in timed relation with the travel ot the tie carriages as will be presently described.A

' The adzing unit, best shown in Figs. 3, 4 and ll, comprises amandrel 597` a suitable adzing cutter mounted on each end ot the iiiandrel7 each cutter comprising in this instance a series of cutterheads Glequipped with cutting blades arranged to cut a flat surtace, andra frame structure or yoke designated generally by 62 providing bearing support igor the mandrel and a housingl about each cutter. In this instance the cutter iiiaiidrei is driven by an electric motor 63 which forms part of the adazing unit, the mandrel 59 serving as the armature shaftl or rotor for the motor. The cutter housings 64 are suitably shaped to enclose each adzing cutter exceptat the top through which the cutter projects,xand are further shaped toprovide directly beneath each cutter a chip chute 65 which cooperates with charges into a chip delivery chute 66. The cutter housings are joined together in rigid relationship by spa-ced intermediate frame or yoke parts 67 upon and between which the motor 63 is mounted. The mandrel 59 suitably journaled on this yoke frame structure as 'ina bearing() supported on the inner wallloteach cutter housing.

The adzing unit Anormally rests on `the main frame structure in a non-worlriiig or inoperatwe position shown vin Fig.

To this end each cutter housing isv provided at its front and back with projecting bosses .68

which restsl ou ledges 69 on said main framer structure. VIn this iustaniife the ledgesftor the 'front are carried by the front cross-traine 14 and the ledges at the rear Lre carried by upstanding brackets designated generally 7l, rigidlymounted on the cross-channel bar 15, there being one ot' these brackets for each end of the adzing unit.

rlie adziiig unit is Vfurther mounted so that it may be moved vertically as byr raising it and disfrom said supporting ledges G9 and is given proper lateral support to hold it in a vertical plane so that it will not be displaced longitudinally ,of the machine. Said unit is further guided so that it will not be dis'- placed crosswise of the machine, that is7 longitudinally of its mandrel axis. To this end each cutter housing has front and rear vertical bearing faces 72 and 73 which bear against com-pleinental bearing faces on the ciossfrainc let and the yoke-supporting brackets 7l, which bearing faces maintain the adzing unit in a vertical plane but permit free'moven'ient of -the unit in said. frame. lilie means for holding the unit from displacement lengthwise `of lthe mandrel coinprises a hearing block .or slide 7/l'inounted on a trunnion 75 on the front yot one of the cutter housings 64 (in this instance the left hand housing viewing Fig. 11) and a similar bearing block and trunnion Vat the back thereof, said bearing blocks being guided between vertical Ways 76 on the cross frame 151 and the adjacent bracket 71.

By reason of the foregoing construction the adzng unit may .be raised as an entirety from its mounting on the ledges G9 and may be tilted in its vertical plane as about the center of the trunnions 75 for moving the right hand cutter higher or lower than the left hand cutter, although without disturbi-ng the fixed relationship of the cutters at opposite ends of the unit. The mecha- .nism for raising and lowering the adzing unit will .be presently described.

Automatic control mechanism.

An independent control mechanism is provided for automatically raising each end of v.the yadzing .unit and consequently each adzing cutter .to a working position determined by .the shape .and location of the surface to be adzed. Since the construction of the control devices are iden-tical a detailed description of one .will sulice. It should be understood however,A that the control mechanism .disclosed ilierein is for .purpose of illustration merely, and that the function contemplated, namely of automatically moving the adzing cutters to a working position determined by the shape ofthe surfaces to be adzed, might be accomplished by other means. My invention should not therefore, e coiitined to the construction ,herein illus- .trated The mechanism shown in detail in Fi 3 to 6 inclusive for controlling` the adzing cutter at lthe vleft hand end (above referred to) ofthe adzing unit comprises a control means .adapted-to be actuated by the tie, a variable height regulating means adapted to be positioned by said control means, and power operated means adapted for raising the adz` ing cutter-toa .working position determined by said height regulating means.

In this instance the control means ,coinprises a cradle located adjacent to and in advance of the adzving cutter and having a pair of spaced, parallelvrails 8O joined and carried by a orgies-member 77. Said crossmember is pivotally mounted lon a pin 78 upon and between the bifiirca-ted upper end 7 9 of a bracket 81 which turni is lmounted to slide vertically on the adjacent-stationary bracket 71 above refered to, guided thereon by slide beariiig plates v'82. The cradle-supporting bracket is normally held in an .elevated position with thev cradle rails in the path an approaching rtie and adapted to be depressed by such tie in a cuttercontrolling movement. Any suitable means such as a weight S3 Ion levier 84 .fulrcrumed ,at Sti on a stationary frame bracket and pivotally connected by a linkSG to the .crMlle-supporting bracket 8l, may' be employed for holding the cradle elevated butI permitting it to be depressed. l 'lo each cradle rail 8O is secured a depending hookshaped arm 87 the )lower endlof which is adapted to lift the outer end of lan arm 88 fixed to a rock-shaft B9 mounted on the upper end of the .stationary brac ret 7l. To `one end of this rock-shaft is fixed a pendant lever 90 which has an ogtyfsetweight 91 serving to `constantly urge the Ashaft `8K9 in a clockwise direction (viewing Fig. l) yto hold either one `or both `arms v88, as the case may be, in `Contact with the lower end of the complemental cradle arm S7. Said pendant lever is connected by a pair of'links 7) .to the l variable lheight regulating means above referedto consisting of a slide 931held by guide plates 94 on the underside ofthe adjacent cutter housing (Se. lhe une erside of ythe slide 913lias aninelined serrated face 95 against .which a power operated lifting abutment 96 :is Iadapted .to act for lifting the adzing cutter to the working position. 'This abutment is adjustable von a lifting arni 49.7 fixed to a rock shaft 98 zwhich mounted yon the cross-frame fMaud adapted to I.be rocked in a lifting and a return stroke by a rollerequipped arm 99 ,by operation y.of la rotary ,cam 101. Said cam is fixed .to a shaft 102 which forms part of .the drivingtrainlabove ,referred to. AThe roller on :the arm 99 rides in a cam-way which has a high part 103 for'hololing the adzing cutter the working position Iduring the entire adzing operation and a l ow part ,L04- for ,lioldingthe lifting abutment 9G retracted .while the adzing uniti'es is on the ledges `6,9 during :the interval between adzing operations. lVliile there is only a single "cam for rocking the shaft 98 .there :is a lifting lever 97 for `.the control mechanism for lifting leach Iend 4olf the adzing unit.

, 0 pero/,tion

The Anorijial .iioikworking or inoperatiye`I` yso ion

, Fig. 1.

position of the control mechanism isv shown in Fig. 5, from which it will be seen that the.

cradle is held in an lelevated position by the weight S3 which is heavy enough to overcome the weight 91.y lf a substantially gstraight, regular tic 100 vis now advanced to the adzing station'by the conveyor car-.

height-regulating slide 93 to the position shown. lifting lever 97 upwardly to its fixed limit its abutment 96 will engage the serrated face 95 of the complemental slide 93 and lift the .adjacent end of thefadzing unitand consequently its cutter toa working position de -termined by the degree of vdepression of-its cradle. The cutters will be held in this position throughout the adzing operation by freason of the length of the high portion 102) of the cam.

lt will be noted that while the `lifting abutment 9G of each control mechanism is lifted to a uniform height each time, nevertheless each cradle may be depressed a different or variable degree according to the shape of the particular surface to be adZed, and consequently that each adaingy cutter may bel elevated a. corresponding vvariable degree by reason kof the position of its variable-heightregulating means 93. It follows from the construction disclosed 'that if by reason ofthe peculiar shape of a tie it sags at one end below a given horizontal ,plane 105 (Fig,

10), in this case lcoincident with the top of the carriage tie-supporting faces, the cradle at such end will be depressed below said plane and its cutter 'willbe raised to a lesser' degree than if the tie curvesfabove said plane as shown' at the right hand side of Fig. 10, in which event the cradle will be but slightly depressed if at all and the high portion of 'the slide will be positioned over the abutment 96 so that the cutter at such end will be raised substantially the maximum amount. Thus each adzing cutter will be automatically and simultaneouslyy moved to a` working position by an independent control mechanism so that the positioning of= each cutter is independent of the other and dependent oni'the other only in the sense that both cutters are mounted in fixed relationship on the unitary frame structure for the lpurpose of preserving the parallel coplanar relation of the adZing surfaces.

The tiltable cradles' perform the function ofequalizing the depth of the cuts when an inclined or irregular tiefsurface is ,encountered as shown in Fig. 10 so that the adzing Vvlhen now the cam 101svvings each' cuts will be of substantiallyy uniform depth and in` any event so that the cuts will be of a certain minimum depth consistent with adzing from end to end of the proposed surface. This is accomplished by reason of the gaging rails being located at each end of the surface to be adzed as distinguished from av single gaging element and because the cradle is pivoted intermediate said' rails so as to produce a mean gaging effect rather than the full gaging effect of a singleel'ement. Regarding the cradle action in actuating the arms '8S` itA will be observed that when the cradle rails are in a horizontal plane both arms 87 will be in contact with the complemental varms 88 to govern the follow-up movement of the latter. However, when the cradle isA tilted in either direction only the higher arm 87 will remain in contact with .itsfcomplemental arm 88 (the other arm 87 being moved downwardly away. from its complemental arm 88) and thereby gage or control the positioning of the variable height regulating means 93. y ,e

From the foregoing itvwill be manifest that the ties will be. fed in succession to the adzing station and the adzing critters will be automatically'moved to the working position in timed relation. e It `will be further noted that the ties are securely held so as to be immovable from the iixed'plane in which they travel, and that veaclradzing cut will be complete by reasonof the action of the automatic control mechanism regardless of irregularities andvariations in shape and proportion of each tie. It shouldbe further manifest that the vprinciples vof operation disclosed herein are likewise applicable to an.

organization of parts in which'the relative feed movement between the tie and adzingV cutters is effected by ymovement of the cutters instead of the tie. i In .the instant case it will be manifest that the depth of each adzing cut is automatically controlledfrom the surface to be adzed or from the surfaces adjacent thereto depending on the particular spacing of the cradle rails and that rthe greater degree of depression of the cradles the smallerfwill be the degree of raising the adzing cutters. Thus lthe approach of the cutters tothe tie or, in other' words. the depth of the vadzing cut is proportional inversely to the depression of its control cradle or device.

It is believed that the foregoing conveys a clear'understanding of the objects prefaced above, and while I haveillustrated but a single working embodiment it should be understood that many changes might be made in the design and construction of a machine for practicing my invention without departing from the 'spirit and scope thereof as expressed in the appended claims, in whichso. f

lll)

shape of thel 'sur adzing cutters in iixled coaxial. relatioi'n means for feeding' the ties in successionpast the cutters, and' mechanism 'controlled bythe shape oit each tie 'for automatically moving the cutters, in said relation, `to make com said relation, 'to a Working position with rc` spcct to the tie support n; means, in which automatically f d ned yby the particular lace to vbe adzed.

In a tie adzing machine, the combination of means tor securely holding a tie, adzing `cutters in lined coaxial relation, means .for producing relative movement between the `held tie and the cutters for adzing the tie, andmechanism .i'or automatically "moving the cutters, in'said relation, to a Working position in 'which the `adain'g depth of each cutter is automaticallyT determined by the particular shape of 'the surface jto be adzed.

4. In'a tie adzing machine, the combination rotm'eans for securely'holding atie, an adzing unit including'cutters in fixed relationship for adzing parallel coplanar surfaces at opposite ends ofthe tie, means for producing relative movement between the'tie and' ad'zing unit `for adzing lthe Ytie, and mechanism for moving the adzing 'unit to a \'vo1"l zi'ng'positionA in which the cutters, while still in fl'ixed relationship to vvmakecopla'na'r cuts, are' brought to 'such Va'position -`that each'cutter ol'ierat'cs Ito am'ean yadzln'gdepth governed by the'particular shape 'orcurvature o'f the surface to be adzed.

In a tie adaing machine, thecombination ofmeans i'or feeding ties insuccession past an adzing station and securely holdingeach tie while so moving it, `"adzing cutters at saidstation, Vand 'meclianism `:for automatically moving the cutters to a \\'o;l ing position in which the adzing depthoi' each cutter is governedby thev particular shape (i1-curvature of the `surtace to'be adr/ged, the mechanism for each cutter including means arranged to gaugethe surface at both sides oi theplace Where the cuttis to be made whereby to cause each'cutter to operate to a lmean' depth.

6. In'an adzing machine,the combination of conveyor mcansfor moving tieslinl Ysuccession past an adzing station and vfor seA curely holding each tie in a 'fixed plane while so 'movingit, arredi/ing unit atsa-i'd station, including a pair of "adzing cutters inlined coaxial relation, and mechanism lor automatically moving said unit to a Working position in which thecadi/Jing depth of each l particular shape of the surface to be adzed. i l

7 In anadzing machine, the combination of means for'moving ties in succession past an ladzing station, adzing `cutters at said station, con-trol means adapted to be actuated by the`-sur`face ot the tie to'bc adfzed, variable height regulating means faida.ptedy to be positioned by said control meansitor regulating the height to which *the ladziirg cutters will b'eraised, and p'oweropefratefd means adapted for raising the fadziinlg Acutters cutter is governedby the toa Working positiondetermined by said height regulating means. l 8. Ina tie adzing machine, the combination of tie-supporting means, a .pair of' .faclzing cutters in lixed coaxial relation, means for feeding the ties lin 'succession 'past the cutters, and mechanism controlled lfby the shapey of each tie for automaticallymovin-g the cutters, in said relation, to 'afn adzirig position in which thecutters mahe complete, parallel, coplanar cuts of mean 'deptlii irrespective of irregularities y-in the shape ofthe tie.

`9. In an adzing machine, the combination of tie supporting means, adzing cutters, means for vproducing/a :relative Amovement between thetie and rcutters vfor-adzing the tie, control `means'adapted Yto beactuated. by the surface oi the tie vto be -adzed,'variable adZing-depth regulating means adapted to be lpositioned by said :controlwineans,L and power operated means adapted for moving said adZing-depth 'regulating 'means andfthe cutters Ito move the latter :to aworkingposition determinedby the positioningof said.

adzing-depth regulating means.

10; In `a tie adzing'machine,incombinaJ tion, laterally `spaced traveling carriages upon and betWe-en'which"atie 1s carried, y'an adzing unit interposed between the carri-ages and having a-pair of -adzing cutter-s inlined relationship for 'adzing parallel .c-oplanar surfaces, said'unit `being' vertically `moval'lile With' respect to said carriages, 4.andfmeans actuated 'the under-surface of each tie to be adzed for automatically vertically moving `said unitto a working position-fin which the cutters Vin said relation -are individually 3ositi'on'e' ;l to make a` compl-ete adzing cut oit mean 'depth irrespective offirregularities in the shape of the tie.

ll. In atieadzing machine,1in combinaf tion, means' for supp'orting'a' tie in i-Xed relation to afgiven plane substantially.paiallel with its major anjis,"1means AforI moving the tie in said plane'past an adzing station, adzing cutters at said station, and mechanismiim cluding control means. governed bythe 'shape of the tie for moving the fadziing'cut-terslto a `Working position for .performingeomplete, parallel, coplanajr ad'zing cuts. substantially parallel with said longitudinal ett? plane, the advance of the respective cutters tothe `Working position being inversely proportional to the movement of the control means for each cutter.

12. In a tie adzing machine, in combinat-ion, laterally spaced traveling carriages upon and between which a tie is carried, an adzing unit interposed between the carriages and having a pair of adzing cutters in fixed relationship for adzing parallel coplanar surfaces, said unit being vertically movable with respect to said carriers, and means for automatically controlling said vertical movement bythe under surface of each tie to be adzed, said means including a cradle gage for determining the depth of each adzing cut, each cradle having a guide rail adjacent to' each end of its cutter adapted to bear against the under side of the tie as' the latter approaches the cutter', the cradle being pivotally mounted intermediate itsl guide rail for equalizing the depth of the adzing cut.

13. In a. tie adzing machine, the combinat-ion of adzing cutters at an adzing station, means for feeding ties in succession past said station, and mechanism including control means actuated by engagement with the face of the tie and in accordance with the particular shape thereof vfor automatically advancing the cutters to the radzing position inversely proportional to the Imovement of the control means.y

14. In a tie adzing machine, the combination of an adzing unit including a pair of adzing cutters, means for supporting and moving a tie over said adzing unit so that the tie will be adzedon its underside by the cutters, and mechanism controlled by the shape of the underside of the time for automatically moving said unit to a Working position in which to vadz the tie irrespective of irregularities in its underside.

15. In a tie adzing machine, the combination of an adzing unit including a pair of adzing cutters in fixed relationship for adaing parallel coplanar surfaces, means for moving said tie in a fixed plane past said unit for adzing the tie, and mechanism. con-l trolled from the side of the tie 'to be adzeld for automatically positioning the adzing unit so that both of itsV adzing cutters will` make complete adzing cuts irrespective of irregularities in said face of the tie. l

16. In an adzing machine, the combination of traveling conveyor means for holdinga tie adjacent to each end and moving it in a fixed plane past an adzing station, vertically movable adzing cutters at said station for adzing the underside of the tie, said cutters being in fixed relationship for adzing parallel coplanar surfaces, and means controlled by the underside of the tie for autol matically positioning said cutters to adz the tie rests being in a fixed plane, adzing cutters intermediate said supporting means each having capacity for vertical movement with respect thereto, the adzing cutters in all poe4 sitions being inv such relation that they Will adZ parallel coplanarsurfaces in the underside of a tie, and means controlled from said underside of the tie for vertically positioning `the cutters to adz the tie,

18. In a tie adzing machine, the combina tion of laterally spaced carriages on which a tie is adapted to rest adjacent to its-ends and by which the tie is adapted to be moved past an adzing station in a fixed plane, an adzing unit at said station comprising a pair of adzing cutters in fixed relationship for adzing parallel coplanar surfaces in the underside of thetie as it is moved past said station, rsaid adzing unit being vertically movable with respect to said carriages and being tiltable so that either cutter maybe moved vertically with respect to the otherl Without disturbing said relation of the cutters, and means controlled by the under face of the tie. adjacent to the surfaces to be adzed for automatically vertically position,- ing said adZing yunit so that its cutters' Will each adz substantially toa uniform depth irrespective of irregularities in the shape of said face.

19. In a tie adzingimachine, the combination of laterally spaced carriages on which a tie is adapted to rest adjacent to its ends and by which the tie is adapted to be moved past an adzing station in a fixed plane, an adzing unit at said station comprising a pair of adzing cutters in fixed relationship for ad'zingfparallel coplanar surfaces in the underside of the tie as it is moved past said station, said adzing unit being vertically movable with respect to said carriages and being tiltable so that either cutter may be moved verticallywith respect to the other Without disturbing said relation of the cutters, and means controlled by the under face ofthe tie adjacent to the surfaces to be adzed for automatically,vertically ypositioning said adzing unit so that its cutters Will each adz substantially to a uniform 'depth irrespective of irregularities in the shape Lof said face, said means including and being actuated by equalizing cradles having tie-engaging members at each end of the adzing cutters, each cradle being pivotally mounted intermediatev its rails and adapted to be tilted for automatically equalizing the llt) tion of laterally spaced carriers for moving ties in succession past an adzingjstation and supporting them in a fixed plane during and while moving them past said station, vertically movable adzing cutters maintained in tixed relationship for adzing parallel coplanar surfaces in cach tie as it moves past said station, and, means for automaticaliy vertically positioning said adzing cutters with respect to said iixed plane by gauging the extent ot irregularities in the tace to be adzed so that the cutters Will each adz substantially to a uniform mean depth.

'l. In a tie adzing machine, the combination ot conveyor means ior moving ties in succession past an adzing station, an adzing unit at said` station including` a pair of adzingcutters in tiXed relationship,for adzing parallel coplanar surfaces, said adzing unit being movable in a plane perpendicular to the travel oit the ties, and means controlled by the tace of the tie to be gained for automatically positioning the adzing unit with respect to each tie so that its cutters Will adz complete surfaces substantially to a uniform depth irrespective of irregularities in said face.

22. In a tie adzing machine, the combination of a traveling conveyor for moving ties in succession past an adzing station, an adz ing unit at said station including a pair oi'f adzing cutters iny tixcd re ionship tor adzing parallel coplanar suri'aces, said unit being mounted with capacity tor `vertical movement with respect to the tie at said station, and mechanism for automatically moving the adzing unit to a` Working position, said mechanism comprising power operated means acting on said unit adjacent to .each cutter for raising the unit to a determined height, and means controlled by the face oi the tie an'd acting between the power operated means and each cutter end of the unit for raising the latter a variable degree depending onv the shape of the tie.

23. In a tie adzing machine, the combination oi" traveliiui' conveyor .means tor moving t ties in succession past an adzing station, adzing cutters at said station, ra pivoted cradle in advance ot' each cutter normally located in the pathl thcreoiig and adapted to be repositioned by contact With the surfaceI oi the tie to be mixed, and means controlled by the repositioning ot each cradle for moving its adzing cutter into. adzing position.

2l. Iny a tie adzing machine, the combination of traveling conveyor means i'or movingtics in succession past an adzing station,

vadzing cutters at said station, a cradle in advance of each cutter normally located in the path thereof and adapted to be repositioned by Contact with the surface oit the tie .to be adzed, and means controlled by the repositioning o feach cradle for moving the adzing cutter into adzmg position, said means comprising power operated means and a variable height regulating` means for cach cutter. the latter means being positioned by the cradlesin accordance With irregularities in the shape oi each tie and being acted on by the power operated means for raisin-g each cutter to a working position determined by the repositioning of its respectiif'e cradle. y

25., ln a tic adzing machine, the combination of traveling conveyor means for moving tios in. succession past an adzing station, adzing cutters at said station normally out ot working position, cutter controlling elements normally in the` path of a approaching the cutterf-i and adapted to be repositioned by engagement with the face of the tie to be gained, and mechanism automatically operated by the repositioning movement of said elements for moving the cutters into working positions in which to make complete adzing cuts of mean depth irrespective ot' irregularities in the shape of thetie.

2G. In a tie adzing machine, the combination oiitraveling conveyor' means for moving ties in succession past anA adzingV station, an adzing unit at said station normally out ot Working position and having a pair of adj/ling cutters in fixed relationship for adzing parallel coplanar surfaces, means normally adzing cutters in iixed coaxial relation aty said station normally out of Work-ing posi.. tion, and mechanism for moving the `cutters into wfnflzing iiosition including control means operated bycngagement with the .face

`of the tie to be adzed tor automatically posi-A tioning the critters, in said relation, torespectively malle 'omplete adzing cuts .of means depth, irrespective of irregularitiesi the shape of the tie. p I

28. In a tie adzing machine, the combination of travelingconveyor means for moving ties in ,successionl past an adzing. station, adzi-ng cutters at said station normally out of Working position, and mechanisijn tor moving the cutters into Working position including means operated by engagement With the Jface orf the tie at mor-e than a sin*- gle point at each place to be ladzed for automatically positioning :the cutters rto operate at. a mean depth as determined :in

accordance with this gauging of the shape n llO of said face, said mechanism including a power operated device formoving the cutters into said working position, and means controlled by. said tie engaging means for determining the degree of cutter positioning movement of said power operated means.

29. In a tie adzing machine, the combination of means for moving ties in succession past an adzing station, adzing cutters at said station normally out of working position, and power operated mechanism for moving said cutters into the working position including` means controlled by gauging the shape of the tie surface, by engagement therewith at morethan a single point at each place to be gained for determining the degree of movement of each cutter in accordance with the shape of said surface, the movement of each cutter being inversely proportional to the tie-actuated movement of the control means.

30. In a tie adzing machine, the combination of means for moving ties in succession past an adzing station, an adzing unit including a pair of adzing cutters in fixed relationship for adzing parallel coplanar surfaces, and power operated means for moving the cutters into the rworking position, the power operated means having a variable action against the adzing unit so as to position each adzing cutter independently of the other but without disturbing said relation of the cutters, said variable movements being controlled by the shape of the tie surface to be adzed.

3l. In an adzing machine, means for feeding a tie in a fixed plane past a cutting station, a plurality of cutters in fixed coaxial relation positioned at said station and adapted to be moved into and out of the path of each tie for simultaneously performing cutting operations, and mechanism including a control device actuated by contact with the face of the tie to be cut for automatically advancing the cutters to a depth inversely proportional to the movement of said control device.

32. In a tie adzing machine, the combination of means for moving ties in a fixed plane past an adzing station, adzing cutters at said station normally out of working position and adapted to be moved into working position in which the cutters will adz parallel coplanar surfaces, means for determining the working position of each cutter, said means being controlled by the shape of the tie surface to be adzed and by movement of the tie when itapproaches the cutters and power operated mechanism for moving the cutters into the working position in accordance with the action of said control means.

33. In a tie adzing machine, the combination of means for moving ties in a fixed plane in succession past an adzing station,

an adzing unit at said station comprising a mandrel having an adzing cutter at each end', means normally supporting said unit out of working position, `an equalizing cradle positioned in advance of each cutter and normally in the path of a tie approaching the cutter, a variable height regulating means for each cutter adapted to be operated by its cradle in accordance with the positioning thereof by kcontact with the tie for predetermining the working position of such cutter, and power operated means for moving the cutters to the working position determined by said height regulating means.

34. An adzing machine comprising, in combination, a pair of laterally spaced endless conveyors, tie carriages on, said con-- veyors adapted for gripping and securely holding a tie adjacent to each end, an adzlng unitinterposed between said conveyors `comprising a mandrel, an adzing cutter on each end of the mandrel, a frame structure supporting the mandrel and providing a housing about each cutter, each housing being open at the top to allow projection of its cutter therethrough and having a chip discharge opening, means supporting the adzing unit with capacity forvit to move vertically as an entirety or independently at either end, said adzing unit being normallyvsupported in a non-working position below the path of the ties, and means for raising said adzing unit to a working position. y

35. An adzing machine comprising, in combination, a pair of laterally spaced endless conveyors, tie carriages on said conveyors adapted for gripping and securely f holdingr a tie adjacent to each end, an adzing unit interposed between said conveyors comprising a mandrel, an adzing cutter on each end of the mandrel, a frame structure supporting the mandrel and providing a housing about each cutter, 'each housing being open at the top to allow projection of its cutter therethrough and having a chip discharge opening, means supporting the adzing unit with capacity for it to move vertically as an entirely or independently at either end, said adzing unit being normally supported in a non-working position below the path of the ties, and power operated mechanism for automatically raising the adzing unit to a working position in which the adzing depth of each cutter is governed by the particular shape of the tie surface to be adzed.

36. An adzing machine comprising, in combination, a pair of laterally spaced endless conveyors, tie carriages on said conveyors adapted for gripping and securely holding a tie adjacent to each end, an adzing unit interposed between said conveyors comprising a` mandrel, an adzing cutter on each end of the mandrel, a frame structure supporting the mandrel and providing a hous ing about each cutter, each housing being open at the top to allow projection of its cutter therethrough and having a chip discharge opening, means supporting the adzing unitwith capacity for it to move vertically 'as an entirety or independently at either end, said adzing unit being` normally supported in a non-working position'below the path of the ties7 power operated means for raising each end of the adzing unit to a working position, said power operated means havin-g a uniform lifting stroke, variable height regulating means interposed between the power operated means and each end ot the adzing unit, and control means automatically operated by each tie as it approaches the cutters for positioning said variable height regulatm ing means in accordance with the 'shape of the tie surface to be adzed.

37. In an adzing machine, in combination, means for Afeeding a work-piece past a cutting station and preventing displacement ol the work-piece while so moving it, a plurality oit' cutters in fixed coaxial relation at said station, and mechanism for automatically moving the cutters to a working position for adzing the workpiece, the cutter advancing movement being controlled by the face ofthe work-piece to be out and bein inversely proportional `to the movement o the control device.

38. In a tie adzing machine, in combination, means for supporting a tie adjacent to its ends and holding it from displacement while it is moved past an adzing station, a pair ot1 adzing ycutters in fixed coaxial relation interposed between said tie supporting means beneath the tie and adapted to be raised to a working position for adzing the tie, and means controlled by the shape of the undertace of the tie intermediate said supporting means for automatically positioning both of said adzing cutters to male y complete, paralleLy coplanar adzing cuts irrespective of irregularities in the shape olfA the tie.

39. In a 'tie adzing machine, in combination with mean-s for supporting a tie of an adzing unit including a pair of adzing cutters in ytired coaxial relation, and mechanism controlled by the shape ot' the tie lior automatically moving the adzing uni-t to a working posit-ion in which both adZin-g cutters will be ladvanced to the tie inversely proportional to the advance of the 'control device actua-ted bv the shape 'of the tie.

JUDSON H. MNSFIELD.

CERTIFlCATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,672,652. Granted June 5, 1928, to

JUDSN H. MANSFIELD.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 6, line 1, claim.

1, strike out the article "a" first occurrence; page 7, line 40, claim 14, strike out the word "time" and insert the word "tie"; page 8, line 117, claim 27, for "means" read "mean"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 10th day of July, A. De 1928.

M. .L Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

